Christmas 2008

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! We had a really wonderful time staying with our family. Unfortuantly the roads didn't allow us to venture to the Goldsworthy farm, as we usaully do on Christmas Day, and staying with my family made me realize that they don't slow down for one minute on the holidays...from one place to the next. Very fun, but man I was tired by the end!
The first pics are of Joel and his "web". Yes, we are going to tear the carpet off the stairs, and Joel and Luke are off to a head start. They do this about 3-4 days/week. I think it's really good for not knowing how to tie knots! They might be better at rope tying than you John!
Next pics are of Chirstmas eve. We had it at Aunt Tressa's and Uncle Jim's. They had us reinact the Christmas story. I think in the first picture I'm supposed to be Marry...since I'm obvisouly with Child. Keith has a donkey head on and Luke was supposed to be Joseph, but instead he rode the donkey and I walked it...really nice Luke, we'll have to work on those sort of curtousies in the next 20 years!
After that we all exercised our musical abilities and played/sang Chirstmas carols! We then spent the night at my mom and dad's and woke up to Santa presents and brunch with the extended family. Yumm! Then it was off to two both grandparent's houses....at which point we headed home to get naps. However, we did make it to grandma Pentecost's in the evening, but I think I took the pictures on mom's camara.
Oh ya, John, the kids, and I have a tradition that you sleep under the tree on Chrismtas eve, but since we have spent the night at my parent's with John being gone the past two years, we take our Christmas eve on the eve of Christmas Eve. So some pics are of us having pizza/movie night and sleeping under the tree...so fun!
And finally, are our sleding pics! That was sooo fun. Wish I could have participated this year, but thought the baby might not like it! I ran next to the sled though, which proved to be very painful and not the best idea. We didn't have any sleds, so dad..somehow...cut one out of a fertilizer container. It was really fun...probably my favorite part of the day!
Last pics are ones that Genie and Bob sent of Joe, Suz and Val snowmobiling on the Goldsworthy Farm....I'm jealous. Hopefully they'll be enough snow next year too....but that's probably unlikely.

Merry Christmas from Iraq

I just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas from JSS Istiqlal (Just north of Baghdad). I just got done stuffing myself with mash potatoes and turkey so if my sentences get short that means I'm starting to nod off. Christmas was pretty laid back out here today. To the Iraqi's it was just another Thursday. A couple of them came by for meetings..and we reluctantly let them in the gate. (I think they are getting us back for bugging the crap out of them during the recent EID holidays).

To me it was probably a Christmas where the meaning of it all hit the most. Being away from the busyness of what we have made Christmas in America, helped me get a deeper understanding of the significance of God fulfilling his word and coming to earth. For some reason it had a greater impact when I read how because of Herod's census, Mary and Joseph had to go back to their tribal town, in the later stages of Mary's pregnancy. And just like that Mary gave birth and a prophecy written hundreds of years earlier was fulfilled when the birth took place in Bethlehem. That was just one of many prophecies written long before Christ took place....too much to be coincidence. Even though many of us all know this, it's another matter to really have it sink in. It gives you great joy and awe to realize that the Creator of the Universe took this day a couple thousand years ago to do what he said he would do. So to me (this year) Christmas has become more then giving gifts and worrying about food. It has even become more then getting together with loved ones (although that would be really nice). It is about celebrating a time in human history when our Creator fulfilled a promise. The most important promise. When God himself came to the world as a man and lived like one of us. I hope that realization will continue to grow.

I can't wait to celebrate Christmas next year with Katie, the little ones, and other family and friends. Getting to see some snow would be nice too. My short term gift that will be really great will be to see our replacements starting to arrive...getting closer...can't wait.

Iraq over here is changing. I attached a link of a news story that caught my eye. I spent a couple days in October at this JSS. One of Saddam's old shopping malls. It was an 5 story hollowed out structure. People would live and work on the inside terraces...which were completely gutted and dark. Felt like I was living in a Mad Max film. The soldiers their called it the Death Star. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28384657

Will hope you all have a great Christmas. Thank you for the prayers... they work, I can tell you more about that later. Look forward to seeing many of you in a couple months.

God Bless,

John

Family

We were luckily enough to have my sister-in-law, Suzanne, come stay with us for a few days. Her plane was delayed in Seattle, and it was easier to fly to our house, than her parents. She was such a great help, and it's always fun to hang with her.

Other pics are of my dad. He and my mom, brought back sea shells from Florida, and he made them into Christmas ornaments with the kids :) They all love Papa!

Mousy, Monkey, Power Ranger

The kids found the Halloween costume a friend had given us, up with the snow clothes, and one night Joel decided to put it on. He had to go grocery shopping with me, so he wore it all through WINCO grocery, and of course, got plenty of comments. He was so cute, but by the end of the store trip, he would tell everyone, "I'm not a mouse or a monkey. I'm a Power Ranger"!

Snow, Snow, Snow!!!

We're getting quite a bit of snow here :) The kids are loving it and I have to say I like it too...It's beautiful...I'm just not so sure about driving in it!
Pictures are of the kids and the first snow. Having hot chocolate after the first snow, and one of my parent's house with lots of snow...I thought it was such a pretty picture, I had to put it on. Hope you're enjoying all of your snow :) --The Goldsworthys

The Boat Parade.....or not!

Well, here's our 2nd annual trip to the boat parade. It's just a walk from our house, and I think it's so fun. This year is Richland's 50th b-day, so they put on a great fireworks show before the parade. The kids had been asking for the snow to come all day, but once they had to walk in it, Chloe and Joel started to cry about being cold, and by the time the fireworks were over, they all wanted to go. Even Holly and my neighbors all started heading back. So...it was a great attempt to see the boat parade...maybe next year!

This first pic is of my kids....I'm embarrased to say, on most nights....hogging my bed! I told John, we're going to have to upgrade to a King when he gets back!

Second pic is of our friend Jessica, who brought the kids a gingerbread house to work on. I have to say, that she is a much more talented gingerbread house maker than I am. :)

Third is Joel, after he fell asleep on his floor, waiting to go to the boat parade. Notice his hand is still on his toy truck....so cute!

What cute girls I live with!

My sis Holly got a totally hot hair cut today from our friend and hair stylist Angie and then Holly gave Chloe a pampering as she washed, cut and fixed her hair. Aren't thay totally cute!

Santa picture for 2008!

OK, so here's a priceless Santa picture! I had to get in it or miss apprehensive "Chloe", wouldn't. I'm hoping the bags under my eyes are just exagerated in the pictue, and that they don't really look that way, and Joel is picking his nose! Yep, this one will go down in the history books!

Spokane meet :)

Here's a pic of Grandma Genie and Chloe at our Spokane visit. I have more pics...I just have to find them! But it was great to see Bob and Genie and have lunch with them!

Gingerbread house

My Aunt Anne gave me this awesome gingerbread house making kit for my birthday...isn't it great that they come in kits now days! So, the kids and I broke it out to make for Thanksgiving dinner. Of course, it didn't get much response from the eaters, next to all the other delicious desserts, so we brought it home, and bagged it up to use as bribing treats :)....stale gingerbread anyone?? My kids love it!